ISLAMABAD: Senior investigative journalist Umar Cheema on Monday strongly criticised Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi for seeking proof of terrorism originating from Afghanistan, calling the statement “frivolous, irresponsible and dangerous” for national security.
In a TV show, Mr Cheema stated he found it hard to believe that such remarks had come from the chief minister of the province most affected by terrorism. He rejected the notion that the statement was part of any political strategy, terming it either “sheer foolishness or outright dishonesty”.
“This statement has clearly proven that Sohail Afridi is neither qualified for the office nor ready to shoulder such a serious responsibility,” he said, adding that the remarks reflected a lack of seriousness expected from a constitutional office-holder.
Mr Cheema said that the chief minister’s claim that the provincial government had not received adequate briefings was unconvincing, noting that the chief minister could seek information directly from the inspector general of police, district police officers or the Counter Terrorism Department. He referred to the martyrdom of police personnel in Tank district, saying local officials themselves could confirm where the militants had come from.
Questioning the apparent contradiction in the ruling party’s stance, Mr Cheema said that when the party was in power at the federal level, it had firmly opposed allowing militants to return to Pakistan. “Now the same people are asking Afghanistan for evidence,” he said, questioning whether the chief minister was speaking on behalf of Pakistan or Afghanistan.
He said that if it was assumed that terrorism was not emanating from Afghanistan, then it implied that terrorism was being orchestrated from within Pakistan, raising serious questions about who was sponsoring and facilitating it. In this context, he alleged that repeated evasive responses by ruling party spokesmen on the issue of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) further deepened suspicions.
Mr Cheema said that the chief minister’s remarks were condemnable and should be taken seriously, calling for accountability and a withdrawal of the statement. He stressed that politics should not be allowed to trivialise issues of national security or reduce them to point-scoring.
He also urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly to take up the matter, suggesting that before any in-camera briefing by military officials, the chief minister should be asked to clarify his position alongside the provincial police leadership and CTD officials.
“This is not a routine political statement but a matter directly linked to national security,” Mr Cheema said, warning that if such narratives continued, they could prove extremely dangerous.
